Union College Union | Digital Works Honors Theses Student Work 6-2017 An Evaluation of the FARC, MLN-T, FMLN :The Impact of Guerrilla Warfare on Democratic Stability in Latin America Anthony Wright Union College - Schenectady, NY Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalworks.union.edu/theses Part of the Latin American History Commons, and the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Wright, Anthony, "An Evaluation of the FARC, MLN-T, FMLN :The mpI act of Guerrilla Warfare on Democratic Stability in Latin America" (2017). Honors Theses. 256. https://digitalworks.union.edu/theses/256 This Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Work at Union | Digital Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of Union | Digital Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. An Evaluation of the FARC, MLN-T, FMLN: The Impact of Guerilla Warfare on Democratic Stability in Latin America ***** By Anthony Michael Wright ***** Senior Thesis SuBmitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Graduation ***** Department of Latin American CariBBean Studies Union College March 2017 Grandma Ann, I dedicate this work to you and all the love you showed me and through my studies and throughout my life. Your love and support have gotten me through so much, and will never cease to guide me for the rest of my life. I’m saddened to know that you won’t be able to read this paper, but I know that you’re with me always. In Loving Memory of my Grandmother, Ann Perik, November 20th, 1924-November 26, 2016 ii Acknowledgements I would firstly like to thank my parents for allowing me the opportunity to study at such an amazing institution. The time I have spent writing this paper, and the time I have spent here at Union has changed my outlook and made me a much deeper and better person. Your guidance and support has been instrumental to my success and what I have achieved here at Union College. I want to thank you for all the long hours you both have spent on my behalf throughout the years to make sure I had everything I could ever possibly need. Professor Garcia, your assistance to me as my advisor throughout this process has been instrumental to my progress and your guidance, advise, and support have helped me immensely during the process. Professor Meade, I want to say how much of an honor it has been to be your advisee, and that the growth and development I have attained while here at Union is in large part because of you. The mini-term to Cuba, which you courageously took on, has forever altered my outlook on the world and my place in it. Professor Seri, I would like to thank you for your patience, understanding, and kind words throughout the thesis process and my undergraduate career. My four years as a student here have been a full and wonderful experience thanks to the constant support, guidance, and most of all patience from you three, thank you. iii Abstract Wright, Anthony M. The Impact of Guerilla Warfare on Democratic Stability in Latin America Throughout the history of Latin America there have been many revolutions that have reshaped the political fabric of the entire continent. This thesis will seek to explore the impact that the following three movements have had: The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) in El Salvador, Las Fuerzas Armadas de la República de Colombia (FARC), and the Tupamaros (MLN-T) in Uruguay. When examining these three movements the research will include histories and discussions of each revolution and text regarding the strength of democracy within the countries. These sections will then be supported with data regarding democracy and the people’s perspectives on democracy. The success of these movements will be judged primarily on the strength of the democracy in the country they are based, and additionally by the role that have played in the formation of these democratic principles. Research into the guerilla groups will discuss their origins, and the primary reasons for their armed resistance to their governments. In addition, these sources will go into detail regarding the individual movement’s histories. The data from the censuses from source like LatinoBarómetro, and Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) will help provide constructive polling and data on the strength of democracy in the respective countries. This paper will seek to examine the guerilla and political movements in a historical and practical perspective. The beginning of the paper will examine the iv history of democratic and political revolutions and provide an in depth description of the history of guerilla movements in Latin America. Then the evaluation of the groups will provide practical examples of the impact that guerilla movements have had on democracy within Latin America. Finishing with a discussion of the impacts that the groups have played on democracy within their specific countries. v Table of Contents Dedication ...................................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgement ...................................................................................................................iii Abstract ........................................................................................................................................iv Table of Contents .....................................................................................................................vi Preface ..........................................................................................................................................1 Formal and Informal Institutions……………………………………………………………1 Operational Definition of Democracy……………………………………………………....4 Terrorism vs. Guerilla Warfare……………………………………………………………….4 1. History of Latin American Guerilla Movements ………………………………….....7 Emiliano Zapata and the Mexican Revolution…………………………………………..10 Jacobo Arbenz Guzman and the 26th of July Movement……………………………..12 The Red Scare and U.S. Intervention………………………………………………………..16 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………..18 2. The Tupamaros and Uruguay………………………………………………………………..20 History of the Tupamaros……………………………………………………………………….20 American Intervention in Uruguay………………………………………………………….23 The Military Dictatorship………………………………………………………………………..26 Restored Democracy and Integration of the MLN-T……………………………….....28 LatinoBarómetro data supporting the FA…………………………………………………32 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………..33 3. The FARC, UP, and Colombia…………………………………………………………………35 History of the FARC………………………………………………………………………….35 Development of the FARC………………………………………………………………….37 The UP…………………………………………………………………………………………...39 Key LatinoBarómetro Data for Colombian Democracy …………………………..41 Colombia’s conflict and Peace Process………………………………………………...43 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………...45 4. El Salvador’s FMLN……………………………………………………………………………….48 History of the FMLN…………………………………………………………………………48 U.S. Involvement in El Salvador………………………………………………………….51 The Peace Process and Integration of the FMLN……………………………………54 The FMLN”s Political Successes and Difficulties…………………………………….56 Data examining the reception of Democracy in El Salvador,……………………..60 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………...63 Epilogue…………………………………………………………………………………………………..65 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………………………69 vi Preface Formal and Informal Political Institutions: Latin America, a region that is unique in its political ideologies, has many different factors that contribute to its political identity. The identity has experienced many changes and has greatly evolved throughout the centuries following Simon Bolivar’s campaign for independence.1 One such tenant of Latin American politics is the idea that individual liberation movements can significantly impact governmental institutions. Within Latin America the idea of popular resistance and the organization of individuals to express political discontent has been commonplace throughout Latin American history. The organizations that consist of civil society are not formal groups and are listed as informal organizations, or popular movements that engage many followers. Informal organizations, which derive from informal institutions, are different than the recognized formal governmental institutions that they seek to influence through their actions. Informal organizations are bodies that differ from the official government, and work in areas that are outside of official channels. Informal institutions, in the views of Professor Gretchen Helmke, are organized non- governmental groups within countries that have significant impacts within both the political sphere as well as the social culture of a given nation.2 Informal organizations however are groups that are separate and different than political 1 Sherwell, Guillermo Antonio. Simon Bolivar (the liberator): patriot, warrior, statesman, father of five nations; a sketch of his life and his work. Bolivarian Society of Venezuela, 1921. 3. 2 Helmke, Gretchen. Informal Institutions and Democracy: Lessons from Latin America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2006. Print. 1 actors that the informal institutions include. As Helmke explores with Steven Levitsky , the difference is that informal organizations, like formal organizations, are separate to informal institutions but each affects the other significantly.3 Informal institutions and organizations are different from recognized institutions